Briefly: Israelis move forward on Jerusalem building plans

He explained that the attempt to question his client, who was arrested in Turkey and deported to Tunisia in October, took place “in secret” 10 days ago, without his defense team being informed.

The Justice Ministry said it had no information on the subject. But ministerial adviser Fadhel Saihi said the Tunisian police are cooperating with U.S investigators.

WEST BANK

Jordanian king to visit Ramallah on Thursday

RAMALLAH — Jordanian King Abdullah II will visit Ramallah on Thursday, the first Arab leader to travel to the Israeli-occupied territory since the Palestinians won U.N. nonmember state status, a Palestinian official said.

“King Abdullah will visit the state of Palestine the day after tomorrow, on Thursday,” Nimr Hammad, political adviser to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said Tuesday. “The visit will confirm Jordanian efforts and support for the Palestinian people and their leadership.”

Jordanian officials refused to confirm that the visit would take place Thursday. “No date has been set,” a top government official in Amman said after the Ramallah announcement.

Earlier, another senior Jordanian official confirmed that the monarch is planning a trip to the West Bank, without specifying the date.

“The king will go to Ramallah soon and meet with Abbas there,” he told Agence France-Presse on condition of anonymity.